Adam Johnson, Dexter McLemore and Ryan Summerford combined to hold the Raiders to five hits. Third baseman Taylor Norfleet, who was named the MVP of the game, went three for three at bat with a walk to lead the Patriot’s eight-hit attack. He scored the go-ahead run in the fifth inning and drove in an insurance run with a single off the left field wall in the sixth.
The Pats never trailed in the game as Brad Davis beat out a bunt, scoring pinch-runner Phillip Perry in the second inning. In the fourth, Brandon Formyduval beat out a hit to short, stole second and scored on the catcher’s overthrow while he was stealing third.
Johnson took a one-hitter into the fifth, but a leadoff single by Talik McMillan, a walk, a couple of passed balls and a groundout got the visitors even at 2-2.
Norfleet beat out a hit to short and later scored on a wild pitch to put the Patriots back in front in the bottom of the inning. Walks to Davis and John Newton around a single by Mario Messana, and run-scoring hits by Norfleet and Phillip Fish produced two more runs in the bottom of the sixth.
The game featured two outstanding fielding plays by shortstop Bruce Koenig on ground balls up the middle, a diving catch by Newton in left field and a run-saving stab by pitcher McLemore on a ball ticketed for centerfield with two Raiders in scoring position in the sixth.
McLemore received credit for the victory with Summerford getting the last three outs for the save.
Union Pines defeated Pine Forest 17-5 and lost to Pinecrest 7-2 and Scotland 10-1 in the eight-team event. Pinecrest, now 12-1, defeated Jack Britt 3-2 in its other game. Earlier in the season, Richmond handed the Patriots their only loss by the score of 7-6.
Pinecrest junior varsity coach Carl Boykin thanked Steve Jones Chevrolet for sponsoring the tournament and members of the Diamond Patriot Club for their help in supporting the event. Boykin said that the approximately $4,500 raised by the tournament will be used to re-sod the infield at John Williams Field following the American Legion season.
R H E
Richmond 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 — 2 5 2
Pinecrest 0 1 0 1 1 2 x — 5 8 1
Davidson, Hailey (6) and Gregory; Johnson, McLemore (5), Summerford (7) and Formyduval; 2B- (R) Billingsley; SB- (P) Newton 2, Norfleet 2, Perry, Davis, Messana; SAC- (P) Keonig, Summerford; RBI- (R) Coan (P) Davis, Norfleet, Fish; Leading hitters – (R) Billingsley 2-3, (P) Norfleet 3-3, run, Formyduval 2-4, 2 runs; WP- McLemore LP- Davidson
